Illegal test threat only a joke – Marko

Dr Helmut Marko has said he was only joking when he suggested Red Bull might boycott the young drivers test and use its race drivers at a private test.

On Monday, following a report in The Times newspaper, the Austrian was moved to deny Red Bull was so furious at Mercedes’ light penalty in the ‘tyre-gate’ hearing that it was considering also breaking the rules to its advantage.

“Of course we wouldn’t break the rules,” Marko told Sport Bild.

He told Germany’s Welt newspaper that he had only made the suggestion of mirroring Mercedes’ illegal test because the benefits might outweigh the light penalty.

“It was purely sarcastic,” he insisted.

“I wanted to demonstrate that, with such a judgement (of the international tribunal), it might be worth the risk.

“We are frustrated that someone is found guilty on all counts and then sentenced to a punishment that they themselves proposed,” added Marko.

Indeed, Welt correspondent Simon Pausch suggested that the only truly punished party in the entire affair is Mercedes test driver Sam Bird, who must now sit out next month’s Silverstone session.